Monthly Archives: September 2016

Janet Horne was the last person to be executed for witchcraft in the British Isles. In 1727, she was stripped, covered in tar, led through the town of Dornoch, and burned alive. The poor woman was accused by her neighbors, which most likely came about because she was going senile. Her daughter was arrested too- she had a deformity in her hands and feet. The neighbors told stories of Janet of riding her daughter like a pony to meet with the devil. After a quick trial, she was sentenced to death. Her daughter escaped, but no one knows what happened to her after that.

One slight glitch in this story- “Jenny Horne” was a slang term for a witch in Scotland. Janet Horne may not have been her real name, but given to her over the years as the story was passed down because her real name was unknown.

Morgan Le Fay, also referred to as Morgana, Morgain, Morgaine, etc. was the famous witch/sorceress found in the King Arthur legends. Where originally she was described as the king’s half-sister (just a healer and magician), the stories twisted her character into something incredibly evil (enchantress, witch, murderer).

With the fall upon us, I personally can’t wait for the season of stews and roasts. There’s plenty of that in A Thyme and Place. A book that I co-wrote with my best friend, Tricia Sandland Cohen. The book is organized by Medieval Feasts and features some holidays you may have heard of, and some you haven’t. For example, Pig Face Day is just under two weeks away, how better to celebrate that with Wee Matilda’s Pork Balls?!?

We’ve put together a video to tell the story behind the story. Our journey was difficult, but rewarding. Tricia and I are already working on book 2, so stay tuned!

Nerd is the Word!

I love studying quirky history, so illustrating the people I research makes me one happy nerd girl. Did you know Queen Victoria had Bishopophobia? or that when Elizabeth of Russia died, they found 15,000 dresses in her uh... closet?

It's good stuff- and I plan to illustrate all the royal weirdos I can find.

All illustrations are my personal property- if you'd like to use them, just ask!